Releasing the vine (and the $17,000 "Happy Accident")

From "Doing it All" to Releasing the Vine.

Author

Ashley Joves
February 17, 2026

Hey!

In the beginning of a startup, it’s all you. You’re the CEO, the doctor, the plumber, and the social media manager. You nurture the baby, protect the baby, and eventually, you start to believe that the baby is you.

But what happens when life forces you to let go?

In this week’s episode of The Making Of Bloom Dental Co., Dr. Ashley Joves and Dr. Toni Torres have a raw conversation about the hardest part of the journey: The Mindset Shift.

Releasing the Vine - Ashley shares a deeply personal update on her husband Brian’s oncology journey. She discusses the "forced delegation" of her business, realizing that because she built a team-led practice at Smile and Co. (rather than a solo-doctor job), she finally had the freedom to step away when her family needed her most.

It’s a powerful lesson in "releasing the vine", moving from a place where your ego fuels the business to a place where the business fuels your life.

The Ownership Breakthrough - Dr. Toni is experiencing her own shift. After months of digging into working capital, Bloom Dental Co. officially hit its first profitable month in January. Part of that win? A $17,000 "happy accident" on an All-on-4 case that proved the value of GP prosthetics.

But the real breakthrough wasn't the check, it was the calendar. Toni has officially mapped out her entire 2026 schedule, proving that the ultimate reward of ownership isn't just money; it’s the autonomy to say "I don't work Mondays" and actually mean it.

In this episode, we also cover:

  • The "Actionable Ick": Why Toni refuses to work on patients who grab her hand during surgery.

  • Tacos & Tours: A masterclass in "scrappy" marketing for her upcoming Grand Opening.

  • The Trader Joe’s Hack: How to get professional floral arrangements on a grocery store budget.

LISTEN TO

“THE MAKING OF BLOOM DENTAL CO. - FOURTEEN

Whether you're currently in the "messy middle" or you're struggling to let go of the clinical reins, this episode is a reminder that the days are hard, but the years are good.

Until next week,

💛 The Making Of Crew

Connect with Toni: Instagram: @the.joyful.dentist • @bloomdental.co

P.S. Don’t forget to leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts—it helps other dentists find us and fuels this mission we believe in so deeply.

The Making Of has partnered with Net32, the dental marketplace that lets you compare vendors, brands, and pricing in one place. → Net32: www.net32.com/TheMakingOf